ABSTRACT
The process of making iron has been given an epoch-defining position in the Eurocentric version of the history of mankind. In Africa, the production of iron has been considered the most complex traditional technological procedure in its material culture; Schmidt called it ‘the most complicated of all of Africa’s technologies’ (Schmidt 2006: 172). The mapping of its placement within the narrative of African history is a vital element in the work of Africanist historians, archaeologists and anthropologists, whether or not they follow the Eurocentric view. It is therefore crucial to find out as much as possible about every detail in the story of how iron was produced and its significance within African communities.
